AUDI Motorsport News

2017 Audi RS3 LMS - as shown at the Paris Auto Show. PWC and Audi hope that a detuned version compliant with 2017 competition rules will make the field by April when the first race of the season will be run at VIR. The background photo depicts what a driver sees coming off of the back stretch looking into Turn 1 at Daytona for the Rolex 24. Image Credit: Caricos (2016)

Touring Car Racing Gets A Boost Through Expanded 2017 Pirelli World Challenge Field

The popular Touring Car categories in the Pirelli World Challenge put on quite a show in 2016. It was some of the best sedan racing in North America.

A victory and a podium place were clinched by Audi customer teams on the sixth and penultimate ADAC GT Masters race weekend at Zandvoort. In changeable conditions in Sunday’s race, Philip Geipel and Rahel Frey made a clever tire choice and drove to victory in their Audi R8 LMS from the ninth row on the grid. In Saturday’s race.

A premiere for Le Mans legend Frank Biela: During the DTM weekend at Moscow the former DTM driver drove the latest generation of Audi’s DTM race car for the first time. In the Teufel Audi RS 5 DTM race taxi, the five-time Le Mans winner chauffeured guests around the Moscow Raceway. 25 years ago, Biela won the DTM in the Audi V8 Quattro. “Being able to do a few laps in the current DTM car was really great. The leap between back then and now is truly amazing. I’d do that again anytime.”

Rain on Saturday, sunshine on Sunday: 25,000 spectators (throughout the weekend) witnessed two highly diverse DTM races at the Moscow Raceway, neither of which went the way Audi Sport had been wishing for. Quotes following the DTM’s visit to Russia.

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport)

“The Moscow weekend didn’t go according to our plans. On Saturday, following a difficult qualifying session, we didn’t really do a good job of coping with the wet race. Nevertheless, we managed to make up ground in the championship with a good team performance. We haven’t really understood yet what the problem was in qualifying on Sunday. Still bringing four cars into the points from grid positions that started with twelfth place was certainly not to be expected and therefore all the more gratifying.”

What a race for Edoardo Mortara: The Italian from Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline in his Castrol EDGE Audi RS 5 DTM advanced from grid position 17 to sixth place in the second race at the Moscow Raceway (Russia) on Sunday. Following a disappointing qualifying session, Audi showed a strong race.

Following the first of the two DTM races in Russia, the contenders at the top of the standings in all three classifications are moving together even closer. In the teams’ classification, Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline recaptured first place at the Moscow Raceway on Saturday. In the manufacturers’ classification, Audi is five and in the drivers’ classification just four points short of the top spot on the leader board.

Image Credit Audi Meida

Audi wins ‘Coupe du Roi’ at the 24 Hours of Spa

Audi R8 LMS takes pole position and fastest race lap

Audi Sport Team WRT finishes third after comeback drive

Fans of the 24 Hours of Spa saw one of the most exciting ever editions of the endurance classic. Audi was among the small group of favorites as the race entered its final quarter, but ultimately it was lady luck that decided the outcome. Four brands fought for victory in the closing stages, before a tire failure robbed Audi Sport Team Phoenix of any chance of victory. In the end, Audi Sport Team WRT from Belgium staged a strong fight back to grab a trophy for Audi. Nico Müller (CH), René Rast (D) and Laurens Vanthoor (B) finished third, while Audi won the “Coupe du Roi” manufacturers’ classification.

Audi is pleased with its own performance after the super pole qualifying session for 24 Hours of Spa. Following impeccable and thorough preparation, the brand with the four rings presents itself as the second-best manufacturer in the field of the eleven automotive brands.